Indian Wells 2024 Day 4 Recap: Djokovic Wins on Comeback

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The spherical of 64 on the 2024 BNP Paribas Open is full, and Novak Djokovic has performed his first match on the Tennis Gardens since 2019.

The highest-seeded Serb needed to shake off some rust en path to a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Aleksandar Vukic. In spherical three, he’ll meet Luca Nardi.

Fellow veteran Gael Monfils recorded the upset of the spherical by taking out eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz to proceed his journey again up the rankings after an prolonged interval on the sidelines.

Daniil Medvedev additionally obtained his event off to a successful begin, and all the opposite high seeds made regular progress, with Ruud, Fritz, Dimitrov, Humbert, Paul, Baez and Mannarino progressing in straight units. seventh seed Holger Rune benefitted from a walkover because the perennially crippled Milos Raonic withdrew earlier than their match.

You’ll be able to see all the outcomes for day 4 beneath.

Day 4 2024 BNP Paribas Open Spherical of 64 Outcomes

Winner	Loser	Scoreline
Daniil Medvedev (4)	Roberto Carballes Baena	6-2 6-3
Novak Djokovic (1)	Aleksandar Vukic	6-2 5-7 6-3
Holger Rune (7)	Milos Raonic (PR)	Walkover
Gael Monfils	Hubert Hurkacz (8)	6-0 5-7 6-2
Casper Ruud (9)	Lukas Klein (Q)	6-4 7-6(4)
Taylor Fritz (12)	Alejandro Tabilo	7-6(2) 6-2
Grigor Dimitrov (13)	Alexandre Muller (Q)	7-5 6-2
Ugo Humbert (14)	Patrick Kypson (WC)	6-4 6-4
Tommy Paul (17)	Alex Michelsen	6-2 6-2
Sebastian Baez (19)	Fabio Fognini (WC)	7-5 6-3
Adrian Mannarino (21)	Tomas Machac	6-1 6-2
Arthur Fils	Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (23)	6-3 6-4
Lorenzo Musetti (26)	Denis Shapovalov (PR)	6-4 2-6 7-5
Cameron Norrie (28)	Lorenzo Sonego	6-4 6-4
Sebastian Korda (29)	Roman Safiullin	6-4 6-2
Luca Nardi	Zhizhen Zhang	6-3 3-6 6-3

Djokovic Makes Indian Wells Comeback

Whereas 5 years isn’t fairly as lengthy an absence because the Williams Sisters managed in Indian Wells, it’s greater than lengthy sufficient, and it was good to see Djokovic again in motion on Stadium 1 Court docket for the primary time since 2019.

It was the primary match Djokovic had performed since his Australian Open loss to Sinner, and he was enjoying towards a man who introduced pre-match that he was “ to see what all of the fuss was about” within the pair’s first assembly.

That carefree perspective was mirrored on the court docket for Vukic as his free-flowing, aggressive fashion brought about Djokovic many issues from the baseline all through the match.

In truth, Djokovic’s dependable serve proved the difference-maker and allowed him sufficient respiratory room to carve out some trademark returning to progress 6-2 5-7 6-3.

He performed superb and deserved nice credit score and applause. The group actually appreciated his tennis and the standard was actually excessive. He performed some ripping forehands and crushing serves. It was troublesome to undergo him. He was going for it and it was moving into. I type of managed to crack the code within the third set, and as soon as I broke his serve, I felt I stepped it up a bit and completed off the match in fashion. Djokovic on his difficult win over Vukic.

Medvedev Strikes Into the Spherical of 32

Daniil Medvedev is seeking to full the sextet of hard-court Masters 1000 titles this week, and he obtained off to a successful begin with a 6-2 6-3 win over Roberto Carballes Baena.

It was a well-measured efficiency from the Russian, who I used to be not sure if he’d just like the balls/situations this week. He was superior from the baseline and overcame a second set blip and a brief delay as a consequence of a flickering mild to maneuver by way of 6-2 6-3 in 1 hour and 28 minutes.

It was not a simple match. The rallies are sluggish right here so 1:30 for 6-2, 6-3 is fairly lengthy. However I understand how to play nicely in these lengthy rallies. I believe I had the match underneath management. He managed to play one superb sport at 4-2, however I used to be like, ‘Okay, I simply need to proceed’, and I managed to discover a approach. Medvedev on his successful begin.

Monfils Fingers Hurkacz Early Loss

Gael Monfils’s comeback seems to be choosing up some steam. He took out the large serving Hubert Hurkacz 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-2 to arrange a tie with 2021 Indian Wells Champion Cameron Norrie.

It wouldn’t be a Monfils match if he didn’t drop no less than one set, even after bagelling Hurkacz within the opener, however he was, for as soon as, the participant who wasn’t bodily ailing within the third because the Pole struggled.

It additionally wouldn’t be a Monfils match with out some loopy factors, so the highlights are value testing beneath.

I felt like I had a really sturdy begin. I served superb. Bodily I used to be very current. I used to be fairly powerful to place out of the court docket and off steadiness. I felt the primary set gave me nice momentum. He fought again after which ultimately third set it was a extremely early break which helped me get by way of. Monfils on his win over Hurkacz.

Different Matches of Observe

Norrie Sinks Sonego: This was a formidable win for the Brit, who’s not been in nice kind. He took out Sonego 6-4 6-4. The previous champion will in all probability just like the sluggish situations right here, as he’s one of many fittest guys on tour.
Fritz Foils Tabilo: The 2022 Champion’s win towards the in-form Tabilo was 7-6(2) 6-2, and Fritz may be harmful if he hits the serve nicely and flattens out the follow-up forehand.
Dimitrov Strikes Previous Muller: The Bulgarian gained 7-5, 6-2, persevering with his wealthy vein of kind during the last ~6 months.